Crate.



IVI. B. BECKER.

ICRATE. APPLICATION FILED yAUG. 301 I9I5.

wanted Feb'. 20,1917

lVIATI-IIAS B. BECKER, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CRATE.

mismo.'

. Application filed August 30, 1915. Serial 11a-48,141.

l@ to which it appertainsnto make and use the same.

This invention has for itso-bject to provide a crate particularly adapted to contain paper shingles and similar articles which M, are adapted to be packed closely and compactly together to constitute a substantially rigid or i-nelastic bundle in which the crate and contents protect each other-aganstde-4 struction or injury in the rough handling m tto which the same is subjected in shipment.

A further object of .the invention is to provide a crate or package'which is adapted to be very quickly and easily assembled about-the contents thereof.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a cratewhlch willbe varlable 1n dimensions to accommodate itself to slight variations in height or thickness of the bundle of shingles or other devices contained therein due to slight variations in thickness thereof without additional labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crate -of the character defined, the metallic parts of which constitute tensionl members capable of being made of a very light and soft sheet metal which are easily cut out of waste metal, such for example, as the bodies of cans or similar receptacles containingasphaltum.

ther objects of the invention will appear from the following specification.

In the drawings illustrating the inven# tion:

Figure -lis a perspective view of a l: tu crate constructed in accordance with my invention showing the 'same housing a bundle of shingles or similar flat articles.

Fig -2- is a view in elevation of one of the metallic tension members of the crate no in its blank form, thatis, prior to its being bent to angle shape and having lits end tongues bent to overlap each other.

Fig. -3- is a perspective view of one of the metallic'tension members of the crate,

showing one end portion lthereof bent to receive the end members ofthe crate.

Vposed of said strips 1 and 2.

Fig. 4I-is a tdp plan view of the crate showing the `component elements for the end portions of the same which are secured together' and held to confine the crate contents. i The crate comprises two end portions each consisting of four strips'l and 2 of wood, said strips being preferably of equal width and; having mitered ends so that whenset together in the relation shown in Fig. f4- with their mitered ends abutting against each other they will form a- ,rectangular frame. One of said frames thus composed of the strips 1 and 2 loosely set together is placed on a suitablesupport which preferably is provided with ak central projection of the dimensions of the central opening in the frame and the bundle 3 of shingles or v the like is then' set upon said frame com- The said frame members 1 and 2 are then secured to each other by means of the angular'corner `tension members 4, each of which consists Y of a strip of sheet metal bent mid-way between its side edges to provide an `angle strip having its flangesv extending substantially perpendicular to each other. The

lsaid strip is split at its ends along the line of the junction of the flanges vto form tongues 5 which may be bent, as shown in Fig. -3-, to overlap each other and to extend atright angles to the respective flanges with which they are integra] and to the companion flanges, each of said tongues being of greater length than width so that when overlapped each 'will extend beyond the Vfarthest side edge'ofthe other and overlap the strips 1 and 2 at. a considerable distance from their miterededges.

After the frame consisting of the said strips 1 and 2 has been assembled loosely,

vas aforesaid, tlie four corner strips such as are shown in Fig. -3 are applied tothe cornersfof the bundle and so that the said tongues 5 at the lower-ends of 4said strips constitute supports for the endportions of said strips 1 and 2. These tongues5 are' soA loo p .eachother to form a package which is practically indestructible.

l It will be obvious, of course, that after l one ,ofthe frames consisting of the strips l and 2` has been connected with the vcorner pieces 4: the other end frame composed of i said strips l and 2 is formed on top of the l bundle of shingles 3 and the tongues at `the`upper endsof the strips are then bent over and secured as shown in 'F1g. -lfa thereby completing the crate. The incisions y 7 separating.contiguous tongues -from each other aref preferably cut of alittle greater vlength than the average depth of the bundle 3 consisting of a given number. of slringles or the like,`so as to adapt the crate'to accommodate itself to bundles of slightly less as `well. as of slightly greater depth without additional labor.

TheV said strips 4 are preferably cut from waste metal, as above suggested, this being readily* flattened, cut andfformed, andas such metal is relativelyvery thin and soft it is preferablefto fold the same over along the free edges ofthe langes of the strips 4to form reinforcing flanges 8y along said edges, sai'danges S serving also to present smooth edges to the touch instead ofburred or ragged edges which mightv result from of dull shears or the like.l

My said erateis particularly intended and i adapted for use in packing. and shipping socalled asphaltum shingles which' consist of' .cutting the metal into such strips by means apaper base coated with -asphaltum and which are packed in lots 4of a given number usually sul'licient to cover' a. given number' of square-feet o f'roof, but the same may obviously be utilized for packing any other materials or articles which will readily submit to 'pressure without injury. The angle strips may obviously be made of aheavy,

metal or reinforced to resist compression andthe c rate thus adapted for packing fragile articles.

It will be obvious, of course, thatl the outer 4faces ofthe bundle 3 of shingles or the likewhich are exposed between the opposing flanges ofthe' strips or corner Vpieces 4 may beprotected by means of suitable sheets ofmaterial confined between the eX- f posed facesof the said shingles 3 orthe like,

.v and the opposing ianges of the corner strips or members 4, said sheets being loosely inserted and being securely held in place, as

will be obvious.l

I claim as myinvention:

l. A crate of the character set forthcomprising upper and lower end members adapted to be held against approach toward each other by interposed substantially incompressible crate contents, and metallic cornerstrips adapted to receive the corners of the crate contents and end-members and having end-flanges overlapping upon and secured to the end members, thelength of the cornermembers between upper and lower end flanges being determined by the heightof end members.

A crate for substantially incompressible merchandise comprising end frames each composed of a plurality of loosely abutting strips .of wood or the like, and ductile metallic angle-strips having'their anges sev' ered' from each lother at the end portions of said strips and bent to overlap each other and each to project beyond the farthest removed side edge of the other, the said projecti'ng end portions of the flanges secured 'to the strips of wood or the like ofthe en d frames between the ends of said strips, the abutting portions of the latter being cov ered by the overlapped portions of the bent end portions of said fianges and being held bythe latter against separation, the mer-4 the crate-contents plusthe thickness of the chandise disposed between' the end frames,

serving to maintain the same against approach toward each other and the body portions of said angle strips preventing relative separating movement thereof and protecting the corners of the contents of the crate.

3. A crate of the character set forth comprising substantially rectangular end frames each composed of four mitered stri-psf of 'wood or the like abutting loosely against eachother at their ends, andmetallic angle corner-strips connecting the end frames with each other, each of said corner strips equipped at its ends with. overlapped.

tongues secured at their free ends to abutting strips of the endframes between the ends of lsaid strips for preventing separation of the abutting, ends of said strips and Asecuring the respective end frames to said corner-strips and upon the crate contents.

'In testimony whereof'I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

M. ML Borna,

C. ,"DYER.

MATHIAS 4B. BECKER. 

